After a hiatus of 32 years, I went back to programming the Mac. What
a new world did I encounter! My previous knowledge of the operating
system, toolbox and OS calls were useless since they were no longer
available in the operating system. The last macOS I used was 7.0 and
now we are at 15.x. I have to pretty much learn everything anew. A
simple thing like drawing a dot or line on the screen, I have to
relearn. To add insult to injury, they even changed the coordinate
system of the windows from a pixel coordinate where 0,0 is on the
top left corner, to a Cartesian coordinate system where 0,0 is on
the lower left. To add to the confusion, the global coordinates
(what is located outside or behind your application window) on the
Mac screen, is still based on the pixel coordinates.
The best way to learn a language and
operating system is simply by writing applications. Writing the code
during programming forces you to continuously look up the
operating system documentation. So these are my two first projects
on the Mac submitted to the freeware collection. I am eternally
indebted to all the Apple engineers at the Developers group and the
guys at the FB group who without insulting, answered my stupid
questions, provided programming tips, and provided psychological
support. Thanks Brian, Bernie, Ken, Rich, Jay, Max, Steve, Eugen,
Peter et al. If I miss anyone, it does not mean I am less thankful
to you but it's just a limitation of this old brain. You guys are the
best!
The software is code signed and notarized using Apple
security certificate. So there shouldn't be much complaining from
your Mac security except for the standard first time run warning of
any software downloaded from the Internet. These are still
considered beta version so I appreciate bug reports.
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Download Mac Installer
View User Guide
Category: FreeWare
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ALPHABET AT THE ZOO
This was done as a company to the
printed book which I made for my grand daughter (available at
Amazon). I figured what would be better instead of paper activities
if we can have her play it on the computer. Of course now she
doesn't need it anymore since she knows her alphabet, colors, and
counting. So the software has a very limited lifespan of usage.
Overview
Engage your preschoolers in learning
the letters of the alphabet with the help of animal friends. The
letters are written with "big letters" (uppercase) and "little
letters" (lowercase), and accompanied with animals with names
beginning with the letters. Introduces the alphabet and the concept
of order and sequence. Introduces colors and counting. The idea that
a collection of the letters can be arranged in a certain way to
create a word to mean or represent something. Lastly, introduces an
abstract concept that the same word can be written differently
without changing what it represents.
The target audience of "Alphabet at The Zoo" are children who
recently began to speak simple words. Knowing the alphabet letters
(and their sounds) is a basic skill kids need when they learn to
read. Build the skills to connect letters to their sounds.
Pre-K
Age group: 3 to 5
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Download Mac Installer
View User Guide
Category: FreeWare |
**UPDATED** Bug fixes of not
recognizing the correct product.
When I started with Sunburst
Communications in 1983, the new software division had a vision to
create problem solving courseware for school children. While the
school curriculum available at that time, was rich in math and
sciences, no one was training the students to be problem solvers and
critical thinkers. That’s where Sunburst came in.
One of their very first educational courseware in the problem
solving field was “The Factory” designed by Marge Kosel and Mike
Fish. This software remains one of my all-time favorites.
Overview
This program teaches students to think
backwards —some sort of reverse engineering. Students are presented
with a product which they have to reproduce using simple programming
steps. It also introduces the concept of spatial orientation, angles
and rotation. This version combined all the machines used in The
Factory to a single multifunction PLC machine capable of all
functions using one machine only. My tribute to this ageless problem
solving program. K-12
Age group: 6 to adult |
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Copyright (c) 2024 by Raoul Watson |
Macintosh, Mac, macOS, Apple, and the
Apple logo are registered trademarks of Apple Computers Inc.,
Cupertino, CA.
The Factory (c) copyright 1983 by Sunburst Communications. |